STUDY IN AUSTRALIA

Why study in Australia?

Australia, known as the smallest continent is in fact the sixth largest country in the world. From vast landscapes to oceans, Australia is the hottest attraction for tourists.

When we think about Australia as a country, we often imagine wildlife, culture, clean air and water. In the past decade, Australia has emerged as one of the most desirable destinations to study abroad and is home to many of the top ranked universities in the world. Moreover, Australia attracts the third largest number of international students after USA and UK.

Supporting its ethnic diversity, students from various nationalities, especially Asia pursue their higher education in Australian universities. Australian universities are wide spread across cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, etc.

Australian Universities offer a wide range of undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses. You would have the option of choosing conventional courses as well as unique courses for higher education. With more than 1,200 academic institutions and over 22,000 courses at a student’s disposal, Australia can be considered an educational hub with good career opportunities.

Higher Education System in Australia

All educational institutions in Australia are supposed to get registered at a database known as ‘Commonwealth register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students’ (CRICOS). It is a compulsory regulation for all academic institutions who plan to teach and enroll international students.

Australian Universities offer education at three levels, which are Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees. Students often take up Integrated Courses in Australia, which awards them with a double Bachelor’s degree, mostly common in the fields of arts, law, science and commerce.

Major intake in Australian Universities is in the month of February/March. While, the minor intake in Australian Universities is undertaken in July/August every year.

Universities offer some of the best technological equipment, especially in scientific research. The central focus of many of the courses is oriented towards practical learning, thereby, providing immense growth opportunities in research and hands-on approach.

Tuition Fees and Cost of Living

The cost of living in Australia is considerably high but that balances the tuition fee which is comparatively lower than USA and UK.

For pursuing an Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree from an Australian University, the tuition fee variesfrom AUS $ 14,000 to AUS $ 34,000 annually (~INR 7,00,000 to INR 17,00,000 per year). However, the cost of pursuing a course in veterinary and medicine is comparatively higher. Similarly, for pursuing a Master’s degree in an Australian University, you will have to shell out approximately AUS $ 15,000 to AUS $ 37,000 per year (~INR 7,50,000 to INR 18,50,000). Other than this, universities offer scholarships to outstanding students and that reduces the tuition cost further more.

The cost of living in Australia is approximately AUS $ 20,290 on an average per year (~INR 10,15,000 per year).

Application Procedure and Admission Process

Students have to pass for one or more additional tests for pursuing admission in an Australian University. IELTS or TOEFL is essential as an English proficiency requirement for all Australian Universities, Furthermore, students might need to take SAT, GMAT or GRE, depending upon the course and college they are aspiring for.

Also, a Statement of Purpose and a Letter of Recommendation might be needed by some universities, depending upon the course and the level of higher education.

For pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in an Australian University, you need to obtain a minimum percentage of 65%-70% in Class XII. However, these requirements can shoot upto 90% for some top Universities in Australia.

Similarly, for pursuing a Diploma degree, you need a minimum score of 55% at the bachelor’s level. To pursue a Master’s degree, you would need a minimum percentage of 60% in the relevant field at the bachelor’s level.

In Australia, a student also needs to provide specific documents such as Eligibility Checklist, Financial Declaration Form, etc. at the time of submitting the application for admission.

Career Prospects in Australia

Students studying in Australia have the permit to work for 20 hours a week and full time during vacations.

Students also get post study work rights of 2-3 years, depending upon the course undertaken. While undergraduate students will get 2 years of work permit, students who are going for a Master by Research work will get 3 years of work permit. On the same lines, students pursuing a PhD degree will get 4 years of work permit.

Degrees from Australia are well recognized all over the world and offer great career opportunities. After completing degree, you can be easily observed by large multinationals and overall the job opportunities in Australia are great.

International students in Australia very often find work in retail, hospitality, and administration. Working students in Australia are covered by Australian workplace law and practice. Any international student who intends to work in Australia should first obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Tax Office. He or she will need to provide his or her name, current address, and date of birth, and may also need to supply his or her date of arrival in Australia, passport, and proof of enrollment.

For permanent residence, once you have completed a course in Australia, you may be eligible to apply within Australia for a Skilled Permanent Residency Visa under the Graduate Overseas Student subclass.

Scholarships in Australia

International students may choose to apply for scholarship, which entirely depends upon their course and the university. Scholarships in Australia are offered by the Australian government, educational institutions and a variety of other organizations.

Scholarships cover vocational education and training, student exchanges and undergraduate as well as postgraduate study and research.

The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) scheme enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia, allowing them to gain experience while working with leading Australian researchers. The scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for scholarship holders, as well as health cover costs for their dependents.

Students considering Australian scholarships should begin the application procedure 8-12 months prior to the intake.